PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Cruz (ranked 1453 p4p, 474 weight class) and Hin Areni (ranked 141 p4p, 40 weight class). Cruz comes to the cage accompanied by Daddy Yankee / Gasolina. Areni comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Mosaique kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Hin Areni was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Cruz
vs
Areni

178 cm
31
150
14 - 11 - 0

169 cm
38
147
22 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pablo Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hin Areni!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Glass and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good leg kick by Areni.
Areni has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Cruz finds it's way round the side to connect with Areni's head.
Areni bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cruz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Areni.
Cruz takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Areni takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Areni.
Areni uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Cruz has time to react.
Areni lands a nice hook to Cruz's body. Cruz takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Areni throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Areni.
Cruz appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Areni takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Nice defenses there by Areni.
Cruz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Areni was well out of range. Poor timing from Cruz.
Cruz misses with a wild body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Areni uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cruz.
Areni takes a swing at Cruz's ribcage but misses.
Areni lands a nice shot that snaps Cruz's head back.
Areni throws an off balance right hand
and Cruz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A good leg kick by Areni.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Areni fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Cruz throws a lazy uppercut
and Areni counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cruz's knee momentarily.
Areni throws a nice outside leg kick.
Cruz scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A nice leg kick lands there from Areni.
Pablo Cruz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Areni throws a looping overhand right but Cruz ducks down to avoid it.
Cruz misses with a hook. Areni ducked under it nicely.
A left lands for Areni.
Cruz checks a leg kick.
Cruz throws a body punch but Areni moves out of range.
Areni has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Cruz takes a swing at Areni's ribcage but misses.
Areni scores with a nice right hand.
Areni misses with a looping left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cruz. Areni does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cruz looks to land a left hand but Areni moved out of range nicely.
Cruz throws a jab when Areni was well out of range.
Areni throws an overhand right that lands on Cruz's shoulder, as Cruz tries to avoid the shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Areni scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Areni turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Areni tests Cruz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cruz lands a lovely overhand right.
Areni throws a half hearted mid kick.
Areni connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Cruz slips under a jab from Areni.
Areni tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cruz swivels and escapes.
Areni jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cruz appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Cruz checks a leg kick.
Areni throws a body punch but Cruz moves out of range.
Cruz looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
An inside leg kick from Areni misses.
Areni throws a big shot that misses.
Areni throws a front kick aimed at Cruz's knee but Cruz avoids it well.
Areni slips a jab from Cruz.
Areni connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Cruz takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Areni misses with a low kick as Cruz jumps back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Areni misses with a right hand
and Cruz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Areni throws a hook but Cruz blocks it.
Areni ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Areni let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Areni misses with an uppercut
and Cruz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cruz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cruz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Areni defending well as Cruz loads up on a big left hand.
Cruz walks into a left hand.
Areni darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Areni is looking to slow Cruz down with leg kicks.
Areni thumps Cruz with a low kick.
Cruz is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Areni wants to clinch up but Cruz keeps it at a distance.
Areni slips under a jab.
Areni is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cruz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cruz checks a low kick from Areni.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Areni takes a swing at Cruz's ribcage but misses.
Areni throws a leg kick
and Cruz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cruz throws a body shot but no joy.
Areni throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cruz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Areni looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cruz. Areni does a little dance to reset his feet.
Areni fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Cruz has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Cruz throws a looping overhand right but Areni ducks down to avoid it.
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cruz lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A big right from Areni misses.
Cruz changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Areni cracks Cruz with an open hand slap.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruz takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Cruz missing with a left hand there. Areni was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A looping hook to the body misses from Areni. Cruz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Areni walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Cruz checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hin Areni will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cruz throws a jab when Areni was well out of range.
Hin Areni seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Areni connects with a crisp jab.
Areni lands with a shot to the body.
Areni misses with a low kick.
Cruz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Areni manages to avoid it.
A telegraphed right hand from Areni misses the target.
Areni staying out of range there.
Cruz misses with a hook. Areni ducked under it nicely.
Cruz stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Areni.
Cruz waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Areni.
Areni ducks right into an uppercut from Cruz.
Cruz misses with a straight right.
A countering left hand to the body from Areni misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Areni cracks Cruz with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Cruz moves out of range of the strikes.
Areni looks to throw the jab but Cruz is out of range.
Cruz misses with a body punch
and Areni counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Areni.
Areni throws a body shot but no joy.
It looked like Cruz wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Areni takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Areni throws a jab but it's blocked by Cruz.
Areni lands a nice shot that snaps Cruz's head back.
Cruz chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Areni can pounce on him.
Areni drops his hands momentarily and Cruz takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Cruz fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Areni missing with a left hand there. Cruz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A quick step to the side and Cruz tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cruz digs a good body shot into Areni's ribs.
A slow jab from Cruz misses its intended target.
Cruz on the wrong end of a nice jab.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Cruz might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Areni throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Areni lands a nice looking body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Areni moves out of range of the strikes.
Cruz jabs Areni to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Cruz fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cruz. Areni does a little dance to reset his feet.
Areni throws a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Areni uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cruz.
Areni throws out a loose jab but Cruz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruz throws a body shot but no joy.
A nice side step and Areni releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Cruz steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Areni. That one must have hurt.
A shot to the liver by Areni. Beautiful body shot.
Cruz throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Areni counters with a stiff right hand.
Areni fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Cruz moves out of range of the body kick from Areni.
Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Areni.
Areni thumps Cruz with a low kick.
Areni displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cruz throws out the jab.
A jab lands there for Areni.
A swing and a miss from Cruz.
Areni throws a hook to the side of Cruz's head but Cruz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Areni is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cruz's half guard.
Areni tries to pass to full mount but Cruz defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Areni is controlling the pace.
Areni has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cruz is looking to escape.
Areni missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Areni looks to land a strike but Cruz avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Areni controls from within his opponent's guard.
Areni looking to sit in guard and control but Cruz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Areni wants to stand up but Cruz is controlling him.
Cruz is looking to stand up but Areni won't let him.
Areni is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Cruz prevents Areni from getting back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hin Areni showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Cruz walks into a left hand.
Cruz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cruz moves out of range of the strikes.
Cruz getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Areni throws a leg kick which misses Cruz's front leg but catches the back leg as Cruz tries to avoid it.
Areni throws a low kick but Cruz moves out of range easily.

Cruz gets tackled into the cage by Areni. Areni maintains the clinch.
Cruz lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Areni backwards.
Cruz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cruz lands with a left to the head.
Areni can't get the takedown.
Cruz lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Areni has a couple of punches blocked by Cruz.
Cruz misses with a body punch.
Nice body punch from Areni.
Cruz has had enough of the clinch but Areni keeps him there for the moment.
Areni is looking to control Cruz's arms but Cruz gets an underhook and turns him. Now Areni has his back to the cage.
Areni misses with the head strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Areni.
Areni swings wildly with an uppercut but Cruz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Areni tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Areni misses with some punches.
Areni is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Areni tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Good body shot from Cruz.
Cruz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Areni's elbow.
Areni misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cruz tries to throw a body punch but Areni avoids it by throwing Cruz back against the cage.

Cruz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cruz throws a hook but Areni blocks it.
Cruz misses with a lunging right hand
and Areni counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Areni gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hin Areni is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Areni misses the jab.
Areni keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cruz.
Areni ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruz moves away.
Areni scores with a leg kick.
Areni misses the shot to the body.
Areni gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Areni takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A big left from Areni misses.
Cruz throwing a counter right hand but Areni manages to avoid it.
Cruz connects with a single shot there.
Cruz looks to land a left hand but Areni moved out of range nicely.
A decent looking cross lands there for Cruz.
Areni scores with a body shot.
Good work by Cruz as he checks the leg kick.
Areni keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Areni keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Areni scores with a sloppy right hand. Cruz should have avoided that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Areni at a distance.
Cruz throws a shot to the body.
Cruz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
The fighters circling - Cruz throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Areni throws a looping overhand right but Cruz ducks down to avoid it.
Areni walks into a jab.
Areni lands a nice hook to Cruz's body. Cruz takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Areni scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Cruz lands with a cross.
Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Areni.
Cruz connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Areni takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Areni lands a head shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Areni looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Areni tries for a takedown but Cruz circles away easily
and Cruz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Areni throws an overhand right that lands on Cruz's shoulder, as Cruz tries to avoid the shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz checks the leg kick nicely there.
A quick step to the side and Cruz tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Areni lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Areni turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Areni uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cruz.
Cruz throws an overhand right that lands on Areni's shoulder, as Areni tries to avoid the shot.
Areni looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Areni moves away.
Areni displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cruz throws out the jab.
Cruz checks a low kick from Areni.
Cruz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Areni.
Cruz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Areni throws a chopping leg kick but Cruz manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A jab from Areni misses.
Cruz lands with a shot to the body.
Areni loads up on a big right hand but Cruz slips the punch.
Pablo Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Good exchange - Areni coming out on top.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Pablo Cruz.
I think Areni has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hin Areni!
Hin Areni decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.